VAR is set to be trialled during Chelsea Women’s pre-season friendly clash with AS Roma at Kingsmeadow this weekend.
Emma Hayes' side claimed their fourth consecutive Women's Super League [WSL] title last term and will host the Italian outfit on Sunday, September 3 as they ramp up their preparations for the upcoming season. It will mark the first time VAR has been used at a WSL stadium, with the technology currently not in use in the English top flight.
The VAR trial for this match is being conducted by PGMOL and The FA and forms part of an ongoing commitment to test the technology within the women’s professional game. It will also provide valuable insight and training for match officials.
Abi Byrne will be the matchday referee and will be supported by assistant referees Georgia Ball and Nicoleta Bria. Mel Burgin will be fourth official for the fixture, which kicks off at 8pm.
Fellow WSL match officials Emily Heaslip and Chloe-Ann Small will operate as VAR and Assistant VAR respectively from the PGMOL VAR facility based at Stockley Park near London. Heaslip was the referee when VAR made its debut in England’s domestic women’s game for the 2023 Women’s FA Cup Final when Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley Stadium last May, in front of a record crowd of 77,390.
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Bibi SteinhausWebb, Select Group Women’s Professional Game Director at PGMOL, said: “We are constantly looking at ways to develop and broaden the skills of our officials with the use of technology becoming an important part of their training.
“The preparation for the introduction of VAR technology has been happening for a sustained period of time now, and officials continually take part in both theory and on-field sessions, including behind-closed-doors practice matches.
VAR was also trialled at the 2023 Women's FA Cup Final“This is the next step in testing VAR technology in the women’s professional game and follows on from The FA Women’s Cup Final in May. Like on that day, if the support of VAR technology is needed in this weekend’s match between Chelsea and AS Roma, it will be there and the teamwork between the on-field match officials and VAR team will be crucial to achieving the correct outcome.”
Hannah Buckley, Senior Facilities and Projects Manager at The FA, said: “This trial brings together many stakeholders from across the game to test how VAR technology can be used in the women’s domestic game. This is the next important step in this process and will provide valuable insight going forward, and it’s important that we take the opportunity to test the infrastructure and necessary requirements when implementing VAR.
“Those in attendance and watching on Chelsea’s livestream will be made aware that VAR is being used as part of our ongoing work to prepare match officials and clubs for its potential use should it be considered for wider implementation in the future.”
VAR was in use at this summer's Women's World Cup, with FIFA piloting a new initiative where officials announced VAR decisions via microphone to fans in stadiums and viewers at home. The technology is also used in UEFA Women's Champions League knockout games.
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